Conveyor systems

ABSTRACT

This disclosure has to do with a conveyor system particularly adapted for conveying cans and bottles which is of a construction wherein it may be readily assembled and installed in the desired position accurately with a minimum of drilling and fitting.

O United States Patent [72] lnventor GeorgeHenryRainbow [50]FieldofSearch 4 1 i i 7. 198/190, Gerrards.Cross. England 204. 189, 130,137, 177; 52/730, 731; 104/95, 111 121 AppLNo. 805,596 [22] Filed Mar.10.1969 1 ReferencesCited 45 Patented June22, 1971 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS1 1 Assign *MmIBmC0mpanyLimited 1961,006 5/1934 Marty 52/731xhmdm'Enghnd 2,290,981 7/1942 Maguireetaluflm. 198/189 Pflomy 2 3,282,00711/1966 Campbelletal 52/731x 1 3,313.400 4/1967 Johnson 19s/2o4x 31112,052/68 [54] CONVEYOR SYSTEMS 11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay AttorneyDiller, Brown, Ramik & HoltABSTRACT: This disclosure has to do with a conveyor system particularlyadapted for conveying cans and bottles which is of [52] U.S.Cl 198/130,a construction wherein it may be readily assembled and in- 198/137,198/190, 104/11 1 stalled in the desired position accurately with aminimum of [51] Int. Cl B6lb 11/00 drilling and fitting.

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CONVEYOR SYSTEMS This invention relates to conveyor systems and inparticular to conveyor systems for conveying cans or bottles. Conveyorsystems at present in use for conveying cans or bottles are soconstructed that they require a considerable amount of workshopfabrication prior to erection or installation and considerable workduring their erection or installation. With the known kinds of systemsit is necessary to effect a considerable amount of accurate drilling andduring erection or installation a considerable number of bolts mustnecessarily be secured in place in order to secure in position the guidedevices for the endless conveyors, whether the conveyors be endlessropes or cables or whether they be endless bands or chains. Further oncethe guide devices have been secured in position their position can onlybe altered by further drilling operations at the new positions.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a conveyorsystem which reduces to a minimum the preerection work and the work oferection, and which permits repositioning of the guide devices withoutthe necessity of further drilling operations.

According to the invention there is provided a conveyor systemcomprising rigid structural members disposed in sideby-side relation todetermine the general path of endless conveyor means, and guide devicescooperable with the conveyor means to determine the path traversed bythe conveyor means and each of which embodies first and secondstructural member engaging portions so constructed that when disposedone over the other they respectively engage upper and lower portions ofthe structural members and determine the lateral spacing between saidmembers and register with edge portions of said members, and a retainingelement which extends between said first and second portions and isarranged to draw the portions towards each other to secure them to thestructural members.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood embodimentsthereof will now be described, by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a part of a conveyor systemaccording to the invention adapted for an endless rope or cableconveyor,

FIG. 2 is a section of a guide device for the upper run of the ropeconveyor,

FIG. 3 is a section on line III-III, FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a plan of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a section through a guide device for the lower run of the ropeconveyor,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic elevation of a part of a conveyor systemaccording to the invention adapted for an endless chain or endless bandconveyor,

FIG. 8 is a section through a guide device used in the system in FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a section on line IX-IX, FIG. '8,

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the connection of one pair ofstructural members to another, and

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate diagrammatically guide devices connected topairs to of structural members of T- and anglesection respectively.

In the drawings like or similar parts are indicated by like referencenumerals.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the conveyor system comprises rigidstructural members 1, of channel section, disposed in side-by-siderelation to determine the general path of endless conveyor means which,in this embodiment of the invention consists of an endless rope or cable2. The members 1 are supported in any suitable manner, not shown, as iscustomary for similar members employed in known forms of can or bottleconveyor systems. Guide devices 3 and 4 cooperate with the rope or cable2 to determine the path traversed by the rope or cable and each device3, 4 embodies a first structural member engaging portion 5 and a secondstructural member engaging portion 6, which portions are so constructedthat when disposed one over the other, FIG. 2, they respectively engageupper and lower portions 7, 8 of the structural members and determinedthe lateral spacing between the members I and register with edgeportions of the members 1. As shown in FIG. 2, each portion 5, 6 isprovided with a spigot 9 which determines the lateral spacing betweenthe members 1, and grooves 10 effect the register with the edge portionsof the members 1. A retaining element, consisting of a bolt 11 and nut12, extends between the first and second portions 5, 6 and is arrangedto draw the portions 5, 6 towards each other, FIG. 2, to secure them tothe structural members 1.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate the guide devices 3 which guides the upper runof the endless rope or cable 2. The first portion 5 of the guide device3 includes an arm 13 which carries a freely rotatable roller 14 which,as shown in FIG 2, is peripherally grooved to receive the rope or cable2. The arm 13 is integral with the first portion 5, extends lengthwise,FIGS. 3 and 4, of the structural members 1, and together with the roller14 is located between the structural members 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the guide device 4 which guides the lower runof the endless rope or cable 2. The second portion 6 of the guide device4 includes an arm 15 which depends from the portion 6 and carries afreely rotatable roller 16. The roller 16 is aligned with roller 14 andthe arm 15 includes a guide portion 17, FIG. 5, which extends laterallytherefrom and which is arranged to prevent displacement of the lower runof the rope or cable 2 from the peripheral groove of the roller 16.

The conveyor system embodies a number of guide devices 3, 4 butgenerally more guide devices 3, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, will beused than devices 4 because the devices 3 guide the upper run of theconveyor which carries the cans or bottles whereas the devices 4 onlyguide the return run of the conveyor and it is of no consequence ifthere should be a slight sagging of the return run. It will beunderstood that the endless rope or cable 2 may be driven in any desiredmanner, not shown.

FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which theendless conveyor is a chain, a belt, or a wire mesh conveyor,. In FIG. 8the conveyor is shown as an endless double chain 18 and in thisembodiment of the invention only one set of like guide devices 19 isnecessary Each device 19 consists of a first structural member engagingportion 20 and a second structural member engaging portion 21, and thefirst portion 20 includes a slot 22, FIG. 8 which extends lengthwise ofthe structural members and the opposite sides of the slot 22 areprovided with two pairs 23, 24, 25, 26 of aligned grooves disposed onepair over the other. Conveyor-supporting rails 27, 28 are located one ineach pair of grooves respectively to support the upper and lower runs29, 30 of the chain. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the rail 27 is locatedin the grooves 23, 24 and the rail 28 is located in the grooves 25, 26.To save wear of the rails 27, 28 a detachable band or strip 31 islocated between each rail and the run of the chain passing over therail. The bands or strips 30 are made of any suitable material, forexample form nylon, and can be easily replaced when they become worn.

The first structural member engaging halves. 19 consists, as shown inFIG. 8, of two halves 19a, 19b which abut each other on the median planebetween the structural members 1. In this embodiment the retainingelement 11 includes an inverted V- shaped head 32 arranged to cooperatewith a complementary abutment 33 formed on the first portion 19. Thisarrangement is necessary because the portion 19 is made in two halves.

As shown in the drawings, the members I are of channel section and thebases 1a of the sections face each other while the flanges 1b registerin the grooves 10.

In each of the embodiments described above the structural memberengaging portions 20, 21 may be made of any suitable material but arepreferably moulded from synthetic plastics material for example fromacetyl resin.

In each embodiment of the invention the structural memhers I willconsist oflengths of about l5 feet and such lengths will be arranged inendwise abutting relation. Connection of the endwise abutting members Iis effected by fishplates 3%, FIG. 10, which are located between theflanges lb and which cover the joint 35. The fishplates 34 and themembers l are connected by couplings 36 which consists of first andsecond portions 36a, 36b so constructed that when they are disposed oneover the other, a shown in FIG. 10, they respectively engage upper andlower portions of the members 1 to determine the lateral spacing betweenthe members l and they register with edge portions of the members 1 andof the fishplates 34. Thus it will be understood that the portions 36a,36!) are of generally similar construction to that of the guide devicesdescribed above and bolts 11 and nuts 12 extend between the portions36a, 36b and draw them towards each other to secure them to themembers 1. The fishplates may be flat plates but, as show in FIG. 10,are preferably of channel section. The portions 36a, 36b may be made ofany suitable material but preferably are moulded from synthetic plasticsmaterial, for example from acetyl resin.

in the preferred embodiments of the invention the members 1 are ofchannel section as described above but it is to be understood that, ifdesired, they may be of other section and FIGS. 11 and 12 respectivelydiagrammatically illustrate members of T-section and angle-section.

The guide devices 3, 4, and 19 ad the couplings 36 may be mass-producedso that when a conveyor system is to be erected all that is necessary isto draw from store the appropriate number of members i, fishplates 34,guide devices and couplings and then to assemble the parts and tightenthem in position by the retaining elements. it will therefore, beunderstood that workshop fabrication is reduced to a minimum and thatthe position of the guide devices may, if necessary, be easily alteredmerely by loosening the retaining elements and sliding the componentparts of the guide devices along the members 1, thereafter retighteningthe retaining elements when the components are located in the newpositions thereof.

1 claim:

1. A conveyor system comprising endless conveyor means, rigid structuralmembers disposed in side-by-side relation to determined the general pathof the endless conveyor mean, and means, devices cooperable with theconveyor means to determined the path traversed by the conveyor means,each of said guide device including first and second structural memberengaging portions so constructed that when disposed one over the other,they respectively engage upper and lower portions of the structuralmembers and determine the lateral spacing between said members andregister with edge portions of said members, and a retaining elementwhich extends between said first and second portions and is arranged todraw the portions towards each other to secure them to the structuralmembers.

2. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor meansconsists of an endless flexible member, and one portion of a guidedevice for each run of the flexible member includes an arm carrying afreely rotatable roller peripherally grooved to receive the rope orcable.

3. A conveyor system according to claim 2, wherein the roller engageablewith the upper run of the conveyor is located between the structuralmembers and is carried by an arm integral with the first structuralmember engaging portion and which extends lengthwise of the structuralmembers.

4. A conveyor system according to claim 3, wherein the roller engageablewith the lower run of the conveyor is aligned with the roller carried bythe arm integral with the first structural member engaging portion andis carried by an arm integral with the second structural member engagingportion and which depends therefrom.

5. A conveyor system according to claim 4, wherein the depending armincludes a guide portion extending laterally therefrom and arranged toprevent displacement of the lower run of the flexible member from theperipheral groove of the roller.

6. A conveyor system according go claim 1, wherein the conveyor meansconsists of an endless flexible member and the first structural memberengaging portion includes a slot which extends lengthwise of thestructural members and the opposite sides of which are provided with twoparis of aligned grooves disposed one pair over the other, and whereinconveyor-supporting rails are located one in each pair of groovesrespectively to support the upper and lower runs of the endless flexiblemember.

A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein a detachable strip orband is located between each conveyor-supporting rail and the run of theendless flexible member passing over the rail.

8. A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the first structuralmember engaging portion consists of two halves abutting each other onthe median plane between the structural members, and wherein theretaining element includes an inverted V-shaped head arranged tocooperate with a complementary abutment formed on the first structuralmember engaging portion.

9. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein each of saidstructural members is of channel section, the bases of the channelsections face each other, and the flanges register in grooves formed insaid structural member engaging portions.

it). A conveyor system according to claim 9, wherein fishplates arelocated between the flanges of endwise abutting structural members andcover the joints between said members, and wherein the fishplates andthe structural members are connected by a coupling consisting of firstand second portions are drawn towards each other by a retaining elementwhich extends between said portions, said first and second portion beingso constructed that when disposed one over the other they respectivelyengage upper and lower portions of the structural members to determinethe lateral spacing between said members, and register with edgeportions of said members and of said fishplates.

11. A conveyor system according to claim 10, wherein each fishplate isof channel section.

1. A conveyor system comprising endless conveyor means, rigid structuralmembers disposed in side-by-side relation to determined the general pathof the endless conveyor mean, and means, devices cooperable with theconveyor means to determined the path traversed by the conveyor means,each of said guide device including first and second structural memberengaging portions so constructed that when disposed one over the other,they respectively engage upper and lower portions of the structuralmembers and determine the lateral spacing between said members andregister with edge portions of said members, and a retaining elementwhich extends between said first and second portions and is arranged todraw the portions towards each other to secure them to the structuralmembErs.
 2. A conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the conveyormeans consists of an endless flexible member, and one portion of a guidedevice for each run of the flexible member includes an arm carrying afreely rotatable roller peripherally grooved to receive the rope orcable.
 3. A conveyor system according to claim 2, wherein the rollerengageable with the upper run of the conveyor is located between thestructural members and is carried by an arm integral with the firststructural member engaging portion and which extends lengthwise of thestructural members.
 4. A conveyor system according to claim 3, whereinthe roller engageable with the lower run of the conveyor is aligned withthe roller carried by the arm integral with the first structural memberengaging portion and is carried by an arm integral with the secondstructural member engaging portion and which depends therefrom.
 5. Aconveyor system according to claim 4, wherein the depending arm includesa guide portion extending laterally therefrom and arranged to preventdisplacement of the lower run of the flexible member from the peripheralgroove of the roller.
 6. A conveyor system according go claim 1, whereinthe conveyor means consists of an endless flexible member and the firststructural member engaging portion includes a slot which extendslengthwise of the structural members and the opposite sides of which areprovided with two paris of aligned grooves disposed one pair over theother, and wherein conveyor-supporting rails are located one in eachpair of grooves respectively to support the upper and lower runs of theendless flexible member. A conveyor system according to claim 6, whereina detachable strip or band is located between each conveyor-supportingrail and the run of the endless flexible member passing over the rail.8. A conveyor system according to claim 6, wherein the first structuralmember engaging portion consists of two halves abutting each other onthe median plane between the structural members, and wherein theretaining element includes an inverted V-shaped head arranged tocooperate with a complementary abutment formed on the first structuralmember engaging portion.
 9. A conveyor system according to claim 1,wherein each of said structural members is of channel section, the basesof the channel sections face each other, and the flanges register ingrooves formed in said structural member engaging portions.
 10. Aconveyor system according to claim 9, wherein fishplates are locatedbetween the flanges of endwise abutting structural members and cover thejoints between said members, and wherein the fishplates and thestructural members are connected by a coupling consisting of first andsecond portions are drawn towards each other by a retaining elementwhich extends between said portions, said first and second portion beingso constructed that when disposed one over the other they respectivelyengage upper and lower portions of the structural members to determinethe lateral spacing between said members, and register with edgeportions of said members and of said fishplates.
 11. A conveyor systemaccording to claim 10, wherein each fishplate is of channel section.